Arsenic in Rice and Rice Products

Arsenic occurs in various concentrations everywhere in the soil. It has been known for quite some time that cereals such as rice can contain more arsenic in the form of inorganic arsenic compounds (also known as inorganic arsenic) from the environment than other cereal types. […] international panels classify inorganic arsenic as carcinogenic for humans. The carcinogenic mechanism of inorganic arsenic has not been fully clarified yet. Thus it has not been possible up to now to derive a safe intake quantity which may not involve an increased risk of cancer. The existence of inorganic arsenic in foods is therefore undesired in all quantities, although it cannot be completely avoided. Examinations undertaken by the regional authorities responsible for monitoring have confirmed that rice and rice products such as rice cakes and creamed rice for infants can have relatively high levels of inorganic arsenic, which is of particular relevance from a toxicological point of view. These findings match up with those of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the authorities in other EU member states. On behalf of the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture, the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) has assessed the health risk posed for various consumer groups through the intake of inorganic arsenic compounds with rice and rice products. After making an assessment based on the Margin of Exposure concept, the BfR arrives at the conclusion that health impairments concerning the risk of cancer are possible. The levels of inorganic arsenic in foods should therefore be reduced to an unavoidable minimum (ALARA principle). The BfR recommends that possibilities to reduce exposure to inorganic arsenic compounds from rice and rice products be examined. […] The full version of this BfR Opinion is available in German on http://www.bfr.bund.de/cm/343/arsen-in-reis-und-reisprodukten.pdfDE; de; efsa-focal-point@bfr.bund.d